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William Miller
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ungodly, emboldened by the position of religious teachers, resorted
to opprobrious epithets, to base and blasphemous witticisms, in their
efforts to heap contumely upon Wm. Miller and his work. The gray-
headed man who had left a comfortable home to travel at his own
expense from city to city, from town to village, toiling unceasingly
to bear to the world the solemn warning of the Judgment near, was
sneeringly denounced as a fanatic, a liar, a speculating knave.
Time, means, and talents were employed in misrepresenting
and maligning Adventists, in exciting prejudice against them, and
holding them up to public contempt. Ministers occupied themselves
in gathering up damaging reports, absurd and malicious fabrications,
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and dealing them out from the pulpit. Earnest were the efforts put
forth to draw away the minds of the people from the subject of the
second advent. But in seeking to crush out Adventism, the popular
ministry undermined faith in the word of God. It was made to appear
a sin, something of which men should be ashamed, to study the
prophecies which relate to the coming of Christ and the end of the
world. This teaching made men infidels, and many took license
to walk after their own ungodly lusts. Then the authors of the evil
charged it all upon Adventists.
The Wesleys encountered similar accusations from the ease-
loving, godless ministers who were constantly intercepting their
labors, and seeking to destroy their influence. They were pronounced
uncharitable, and accused of pride and vanity, because they did not
pay homage to the popular teachers of their time. They were accused
of skepticism, of disorderly practices, and of contempt of authority.
John Wesley fearlessly threw back these charges upon those who
framed them, showing that they themselves were responsible for the
very evils of which they accused the Methodists. In a similar manner
may the charges against Adventism be refuted.
The great controversy between truth and error has been carried
forward from century to century since the fall of man. God and
angels, and those united with them, have been inviting, urging men to
repentance and holiness and Heaven; while Satan and his angels, and
men inspired by them, have been opposing every effort to benefit and
save the fallen race. Wm. Miller was disturbing Satan’s kingdom,
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and the arch-enemy sought not only to counteract the effect of the
message, but to destroy the messenger himself. As Father Miller